Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-06-03
ACROSS THE PRAIRIE.
A trip to the NeiC Settlements
on Cottonwood Butte; the
Prairie by Moonlight.

Last Sunday Judge Forney and the
editor drove over to the new settlements
on Cottonwood hill. In the German coll
ony are the evidences Of industry and
thrift which are characteristic of that
people, and which native born citizens
might emulate without detriment to
their own interests. In the heart of
this settlement is located the Catholic
church, now completed and only watt
ing the arrival of priest to be dedicated
to the service of the Lord. In the inn
mediate vicinage of the church the set
tlement is quite thick, and the evidences
of industry and cultivation are very
gratifying to the sight of those who are
interested in the rapid development Of
our new country. Further westward
are located last years arrivals from
north Carolina, who are now fairly sit
uated to cultivate their claims, and are
thus paving the way for new settlements
on the vacant lands beyond. The ex-
tent of the country in that section still
available for agricultural occupation
surprised US, familiar as we are with the
extent of Camas prairie. 1t is only by
such trips, taken into the new settle
ments that one learns to appreciate the
real extent of agricultural lands on this
prairie, and to look with increased con-
fidence upon its productive capacity in
the near futurewhen railroad shall
thrust it's iron snout into this vast area
CT fertile land. The settlements over
there are dotted with groves of fine
timber, which gives to the country q
park-like aspect, and as we drive under
the friendly shelter of these forest
glades through the green grass and
golden flowers under foot, the scene
reminds one of an ancestral estate in
the old country where centuries of care
and cultivation have been expended to
create similar effect. 1t is lovely
country, and exceedingly fertile, and
the time is near when every acre of it's
coil will possess a substantial money
value.
The return trip was made in the cool
of the evening after the sun had gone
down, and but for the fact that our COM
panion was lawyer instead Of pretty
girl, it was intensely enjoyable. In all
her wide labratory nature hath no tonic
more calculated to soothe an unuuiet
conscience than ride across this lovely
prairie at this season in the young
moonlight just at the twilight hour,
when the glimmering glances of crimson
left by the descending sun gradually
fades into the dark hues of approaching
night, while the gentle zephyrs which
temper the heated air snatch fragrance
sweet as honey from the growing crops.
No tenderer and more peaceful land.
scape ever barred its dark breast to the
mild scrutinies of the moon than these
rapt broadlands which, with their
dreamy fringes of timber edges awav
in shadowy phantoms towards the en-
closing foothills, while In the zenith
hangs the pale globe of the moon. cast
ing mystic shadows on the sun-kissed
earth. while the faint gold shine in the
west comes and goes, and the large
stars in the nearer sky and the growing
whiteness of the moonlight on the
fields, all conspire to fill the soul with
those peaceful reveries and communings
with nature which inspires thoughts
too deep for words.